Neighborhood Legal Services Association

Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) envisions a community where fairness and justice are accessible to all. We are guided by the principles of:

• Accessibility: We prioritize equal access to legal aid, regardless of financial means.
• Quality: We provide high-quality legal services with diligence and compassion.
• Client-Centeredness: We empower our clients by providing personalized guidance and representation.
• Community Collaboration: We actively engage with our community to address systemic injustices.

Our History and Impact

Founded in 1966, NLS has provided over 1.2 million low-income and vulnerable people in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties with high-quality legal assistance. We have successfully:

• Secured housing stability for families facing eviction or foreclosure.
• Assisted victims of domestic violence and crime.
• Collected debts and protected financial assets for vulnerable individuals.
• Secured essential benefits for families struggling with hunger, healthcare, or unemployment.
• Provided a lifeline to veterans and seniors facing legal challenges.

Dedicated Services for Diverse Needs

Our dedicated team of legal professionals and community advocates offer a diverse range of services in the following areas:

Family and Relationships: Custody, divorce, child support, protection for victims of crime and domestic violence, guardianship.

Housing: Landlord-tenant disputes, wrongful eviction, title issues, public housing denials, utility assistance.

Consumer Protection: Bankruptcy, debt collection, mortgage foreclosures, automobile repossession.

Public Benefits: Assistance with SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, LIHEAP, and unemployment benefits.

Social Security: Advocacy for disability benefits, terminations, overpayments, and underpayments.

Workplace Issues: Wage claims, criminal record expungement, family and medical leave denials, discrimination, driver's license suspensions, and job terminations.

Specialized Programs

• Medical Legal Collaborative: Ensuring better healthcare for children.
• Women's Impact Network: Providing support and career services to women in economic distress.
• Disability Advocacy: Assisting children and young adults with securing social security benefits.
• Project HEALS: Addressing homelessness and stabilizing housing for vulnerable individuals.
• Victims of Crime: Empowering survivors of crime to resolve legal issues.